The direct engagement of top management and the participation of employees in the development of workplace health policies are an essential prerequisite for the successful implementation of policies designed to address the real needs of the working community.

The following main steps and/or activities should be considered in the development and implementation of workplace health management at company level:

Develop a brief employer or senior executive policy statement that explicitly states senior management commitment and acceptance of responsibility for the company’s health management strategy.

Educate managers and workers about the impact of environmental, occupational and lifestyle factors on their health and social well-being and about the economic situation and the competitive capacity of the company to facilitate their participation in health management.

Determine the role of medical, nursing, environmental and safety experts and other professionals needed to assist in the implementation of the company’s health management strategy.

Discuss the economic evaluation of the existing and projected health, safety and environmental health results of the company’s activities.

Train staff in quality management principles and standards to be used for the workplace health management system. These are the same ones that apply to quality assurance in the management of manufacturing, service, or marketing operations.

· Ensures the participation of management and employees in the development and implementation of occupational health management systems in the company.

Develop adequate tools for the monitoring and evaluation of health, safety, social, economic and environmental results to determine the impact on the well-being of employees and the competitiveness of the company.

· Introduce systematic internal audits and evaluations in order to make the necessary adjustments to the company’s occupational health management system.

· External audit by a recognized certification body, if necessary.

Key steps in the implementation of workplace health policies

The prerequisite for establishing good practices in workplace health management in companies is the conscious and creative support, as well as the fullest possible involvement of top management, employees and their union representatives.

They would cooperate in the development of the workplace health policy and its implementation with the assistance of appropriate experts, for example from occupational health services, environmental health services or health promotion agencies, preferably from preventive services multidisciplinary. Quality management systems and internal and external audits are believed to support the creation and maintenance of a healthy company. Leading companies are increasingly integrating their health management and environmental management into the overall business management system. The company’s health and environment policy determines objectives, defines processes and ensures the financial and human resources necessary to act on the determinants of health and improve the social and physical environments to:

• Generate the greatest gain in health and work capacity for all staff and, if possible, also for their families.
• Provide a safe and healthy work environment for employees while preserving the general environment and the health of people who live off-site.
• offer healthy and environmentally friendly products and services
• ensure the human rights of all staff

Coming soon in the next chapter “Key benefits of workplace health management